Every spinal cord injury is unique as is the rehabilitation process for each patient. But, there are recognisable milestones throughout any rehab process. The general points that any spinal cord injury rehab plan will include are as follows:

• Helping the individual and family to understand the injury sustained and what it means

• Helping them become as functionally independent as possible in activities of daily living (ADLs)

Acute recovery is a triple layered defence against the initial consequences of SCI. It includes the teaching of coping skills, physical therapy & examination and physical interventions:

Firstly, a patient’s respiratory functions will be examined and evaluated. Depending on the level of lesion, the muscles responsible for expanding the thorax be affected. If this is the case, physical therapists (PTs) teach SCI patients alternative breathing techniques.

Lastly, acute recovery focuses on the overarching aim to improve locomotor functionalities. Prognoses vary greatly on expected or even possible improvements in this arena. However, PTs strive to reach every patient's optimal mobility level at this early stage.

Post Discharge Rehabilitation Therapy

It is during this second stage that the individual takes more of an active role in the rehab process. They will work with their SCI rehab team to devise individual goals.

The overarching aim is to achieve the highest level of functional independence.

Depending on the level of lesion, whatever sparing the patient has is optimised. Various options are available to enhance a spinal injury patient’s mobility, functionality and communication:

Assistive technologies

‘Assistive Technology’ is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive and rehabilitative devices. All of which promote greater independence for people with disabilities. Assistive devices aim to optimise further whatever sparing the patient does or doesn't have.

For both quadriplegics and paraplegics , there is a huge range of technologies available:

For example, many devices offer renewed freedom and heightened levels of independence. Their drive on increasing communication abilities resultantly deflate common feelings of isolation and loneliness.

If you are interested in any assistive devices, please speak to your occupational therapist. It is they who will be best placed to discuss your options in more detail.

Going Home

For many spinal cord injured people, the scariest and most confusing time can be going home.

It is often when the full impact of spinal injury is realised. It is not common for people to feel a range of emotions from sadness to anger, frustration and even a form of grief.

Our partners Aspire Charity are on hand to make leaving the hospital and moving from injury to independence that bit easier. Aspire are a national charity providing practical help to people who have been paralysed by spinal injury.

They can help in a number of ways: From offering practical help, financial aid or just good honest simple advice. Some of Aspire’s most popular services are listed below:

• Aspire Grants provide funds to help people buy specialist and assistive equipment they need

• Aspire Housing provides fully accessible properties for use on a short-term basis

• Aspire campaigns to make changes that benefit every one of the 40,000 people in the UK with a spinal cord injury.

How Aspire Law can help

If you sustain a spinal cord injury, a successful compensation claim can mean the world. Adjusting to life and living with a disability, unfortunately, does not come cheap. One way to manage these costs is to secure compensation.

A fair financial settlement can ensure that you and your family are able to maintain as normal a level of independence as possible.

Even if you feel that you were in some way partly to blame, you should speak to a specialist spinal cord injury law firm.

At Aspire Law, we have even settled many claims where our client was partly to blame for their accident. If you or a loved one has sustained a spinal cord injury please get in touch, we really could transform your life.

Aspire Law is the trading name of Aspire Law LLP, which is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales, registration number OC390992 and VAT number 217 6672 92. The registered office is Gateway House, Tollgate, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 3TG. A list of the members is open to inspection at our registered office. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.